//------------------------------// // Developments // Story: Selection initiated // by TheDudeWhoWasR3 //------------------------------// Developments John pressed a manual release button on the side of the command box, letting the well shaken Rex loose from it's wrecked, unpowered location. He stepped out of the box, catching his breath before noticing the pile of almost putridly bright colors. Except there was something odd about this relatively large, "Pile." It was ever so slightly MOVING. The pile was ALIVE. "Commander, do you have ANY idea what these are..?" "No, but I do know one thing. They are an unknown alien life form that has suddenly breached through our wave gate and has made it's way in to the heart of our base." "And..?" John asked, wondering what the commander was getting at. "Code 43-T. If an alien life-form is encountered, we must contain it, and inform command immediately." "You can't be serious." "Even after just meeting me you should know full well how serious I am private. I'll bring them over, you get a plasma cell prepped for these... Creatures.." "They look like horses sir. How harmful can a small technicolor horse be si-" John was cut off. "That is an order private..." John looked from the new arrivals to Rex and back. "Fine." John went to prep the cage, and looked back to see Rex pulling the coms channel back up, and sending out a message. "Everything is fine up here, we just had a minor case of code 43-T. Nothing huge. Continue with you operations soldiers. That is all." The creatures had been artfully placed in the cage by he time everything was back up and running, and John didn't like it. Even if they are aliens, they deserved better treatment. "At least by the cage's size, it's more or less a small holding cell," John though to himself. He was soon greeted with alight snort, followed by one of the creatures beginning to regain conscience. John knew he should have called Rex first, but he didn't want to complicate his idea of a first impression. How welcoming would it be to have a heavily armored military commander questioning them in a stern voice? So John decided to take matters in to his own hands. He slowly began to turn up the lights in the cage, and saw that the alien that was arising was a light purple in color. It shook its head, and looked to John, not sure how to react. If John could read minds, he would see terror was the most viable option spinning through its head. So John figured he should try and communicate. "H-hello?" The creature seemed surprised by his attempt to communicate. It cocked its head to the side, almost curious if it was imagining things. "Can you understand me?" John asked. It seemed futile at first, but what would he lose in trying? "What are you? And How can you speak equestrian?" If John was having a drink, he would have spit it out faster than he could imagine. WHAT...? "I-I could ask you the same thing..." Was all he could make out. They went back and forwards for nearly ten minutes, until John decided to make things more simple. "Okay, miss..?" "Sparkle. but you can just call me twilight." "Okay, 'Twilight', how about this. I ask you a question, you answer, then we do the same, but reversed." "That sounds like it would be less complicated." it said with a still flat tone. "Soo.... What are you..?" John felt awkward talking to a horse. I mean, how far gone are most people when they talk to animals? "An equestrian, or if you mean by species, a pony. Now, is it my turn?" "A pony huh? Not sure that you are the type of pony I'm used to. But i'll bite. Shoot. "You're going to bite me!?" The pony asked, incredibly shocked. "No no no, it's just a phrase we humans use to say that we will answer a question..." John said hastily. "Interesting... Besides, you answered my question any ways. I was going to ask what you were." Suddenly, John's radio flared up. "Commander, we have a transport inbound." "This is Echo 1197 responding to a code 43-T called by Commander Rex-4338, requesting permission to dock." "This is Rex 4338, your request to dock has been granted. Please proceed to bay four." "Roger that commander, docking sequence initiated." "What's that thing on your belt making noise?" The pony asked. "just something to help me communicate with my comrades. They were just saying that some people coming to inspect you and your friends have arrived. it's only natural that a first contact with a new species requires a higher audience, you dig?" "I'm sure, 'dig' Is another one of those things you mentioned before, but I guess I can understand completely." "Greetings General." "Please, just keep to the formalities. Call me Zack, or if you feel compelled, just keep it to General." "Yes sir." Rex said, trying to make his own first impression." "And this is my pilot, he prefers to go by Echo." "That's ma' name, don't wear it out." The peppy young pilot spewed out in a near slur. "Indeed. Now, where are these, 'Aliens' you described to me. I wish to inspect them." "We have them stationed in a holding cell in the medical ward. Follow me, I'll lead the way sir." The lights flickered off with a buzz, whilst the electric bars on the cell fizzed out of existence. "Why are the lights off?" The mare questioned. "I don't know, but stay in the cell. Whatever caused the black out may be trouble. I'll be right back." With that, John whipped out his knife, and went in to a crouched walk down the halls. As he made his way down the hall, he heard light tapping against metal. He turned the corner, sidearm now unholstered, and observed the sight that was before him... Nothing. All that was there was a broken power box. He decided to fix it. "All done." John said aloud, as he heard a shrill scream from the med wing. "NO!" John yelled, booking it for the source of the distress. "THIS is why we never leave our, 'guests' ALONE!" "What was That Rex!?" "No clue General, but I get the felling we should find out!" Rex said in a near panic. Him and his two guests dashed for the medical wing with as much haste as they could muster. They ran in to the med bay, to see a small group of Lerks buzzing around the room, occasionally dive-bombing the now all awake group of, 'Aliens.' The most shocking part though, was that the purple one was firing bolts of energy at them. "My lord! Help them!" Out of the blue, John dashed in, sidearm blazing. "GET OUT OF HERE YOU ALIEN PIGEONS!" They seemed to be relatively injured from the start, undoubtedly trying to escape from the sentry battery to the east, so this was the final push they needed to flee. One of them though, was not so cowardly though. It dive-bombed towards the cage, ponies and all. This Lerk was hungry, and it was not about to leave with an empty stomach. Author's note I know this chapter is not worth how long it's been, but to be honest.. I'm a lazy POS when it comes to commitment. Don't worry, this is probably the shortest and most rushed chapter there will be for the rest of the story. And, as per usual, point out some errors if you see any. I tried to go over this twice, but I just KNOW I missed something somewhere. Thanks for your time. ~R3